Schools join Goodwill’s ‘Bag It Up’

Goodwill has secured ‘American Idol’ winner Nick Fradiani as the grand prize for its “Bag It Up For Goodwill Challenge.”

Goodwill of Western and Northern Connecticut secured ‘American Idol’ winner Nick Fradiani as the grand prize for its “Bag It Up For Goodwill Donation Challenge,” taking place throughout the month of April at participating Goodwill stores and donation stations with local elementary schools. Eligible elementary schools that fall within Goodwill’s territory are encouraged to participate in the “Bag It Up For Goodwill Donation Challenge” and help contribute to making an impact on the community and environment through reusing, repurposing or recycling items that are no longer needed. The elementary school with the most items donated at the end of Earth Month will enjoy a special live performance by Fradiani.

Participating schools in Torrington include Southwest School, Vogel-Wetmore, East School, Forbes School and Torringford School Torrington

Other local schools taking part in the contest are Cornwall Consolidated Cornwall; James Morris Elementary, Morris; Sarah Noble New Milford; Black Rock Elementary School, Thomaston; Hill and Plain Elementary School, New Milford; St. John the Evangilist School, Watertown; Center School, Litchfield; Judson Elementary, Watertown; Batcheller School, Winsted; Goshen Center School, Goshen; Barkhamsted School, Barkhamsted; New Hartford Elementary, New Hartford; Colebrook Elementary, Colebrook; Bakerville Elementary, New Hartford; Ann Antolini School, New Hartford; and Harwinton Consolidated, Harwinton.

“Our ‘Bag It Up’ donation challenge is a fun and unique way to share our mission and promote community involvement while showing students the benefits of donating,” said Vickie L. Volpano, president and CEO of Goodwill of Western and Northern Connecticut. “The best part is that the proceeds from the donations will help our Connecticut neighbors with disadvantages and disabilities find and keep jobs. And with the help of our future generation, we will keep items out of landfills and make an even greater impact on our planet.”

Throughout the month of April residents who make a donation at a participating Goodwill donation location will have the opportunity to claim their donation in the name of a local elementary school. The school with the most items donated during the month will receive $1,000, NoRA Cupcakes for the entire school, along with a live performance for the student body. The winning school will be notified by May 10, 2017, and the school performance will take place before the end of the school year. In 2016, Bloomfield’s Metacomet Elementary won the challenge and received a special performance by NBC The Voice contestant Braiden Sunshine.

School principals and superintendents have been notified and are being asked to register their school to show their participation. This will provide Goodwill with the opportunity to update schools on their standing throughout the month. However, registration is not required. Anytime during the month of April, school staff, students, friends and family can donate gently-used clothing and household items at any participating Goodwill Store & Donation Station in Connecticut to give their school credit.

At the Goodwill donation stations, attendants will provide a Bag It Up donation slip where donors will record their school name, city and total number of items being donated. These slips will be tallied, and periodic updates will be posted on www.bagitupforgoodwill.org . The school with the highest number of total items donated at the end of the promotion will win $1,000, NoRA Cupcakes and a live performance. Schools that finish in second and third place will also receive $500 and $250 respectively.

Schools may maximize their involvement by taking advantage of the opportunity for a member of the school community to be a “celebrity donation attendant.” More information about this opportunity is available by calling Jeremy Mooser at (203) 5815051 or jmooser@gwct.org.

For more information on the “Bag It Up For Goodwill Donation Challenge,” along with a video of last year’s event, as well as support materials to help spread the word, please visit www.bagitupforgoodwill.org.